Over the next few years, local government will be in the eye of the storm. Challenges, from reduced budgets and rising welfare costs, will go hand-in-hand with opportunities, from increased localism, wider responsibilities and respect from Whitehall for councils' capacity to deliver. The Conservative front bench, too, has hinted the same, that while tough times lie ahead for councils, they will benefit from an enhanced role. Only a few weeks ago, shadow chancellor, George Osborne, was promising more localism in a speech at the LGA. His own councillors believe the combination of Tory Government and a more devolved Tory local government will be a dream ticket. Conservative-led councils such as Essex or Buckinghamshire have been boldly experimenting with recent innovations. They have also been doing so with powerful management teams. So, with all this expectation, Caroline Spelman's speech this week at the Conservative conference struck a discordant note. Fair enough, it was aimed at the gallery and, like John Denham last week, she piled into chief executives and their ‘glorified six-figure salaries'. But it was pure populism to suggest the answer to local government's complex challenges lies in allowing executive mayors to take on the chief executive function, and hire and fire management. Apparently, this will enable them to ‘address public concern about salaries.' Perhaps she should have a word with some of her council leaders who were responsible for setting those salaries. And is she suggesting, therefore, the main obstacles to change lie in the officers? Her proposal to return to the old committee system and ‘give every councillor a direct say in decision-making' promises a return to sclerotic decision-making processes. Those with memories pre-dating the cabinet system will recall cases of councillors arguing over the height of steps in multimillion-pound developments, or deciding the correct length of grass in grounds maintenance contracts. Doubtless the speech was aimed at conference activists. But at a time when councils need to be innovative, fast-moving, risk-taking, decisive and above all, an example to the rest of the public sector in their capacity to adapt, Ms Spelman's proposals look back, not forwards. Michael Burton, Editor, The MJ
